Segregated Cycle Lanes

Tony Devenish: At January’s MQT you told Andrew Boff AM that you have "more than doubled segregated cycle lanes in the last 3 years". Please provide the detail to back up that assertion.

The Mayor: I can confirm that in January I had already more than doubled the amount of protected cycle lanes delivered by the last administration.
On Friday 28th February I was able to confirm that I fulfilled my election pledge of tripling the amount of protected cycle space constructed or in construction. Along with this announcement I released a list of locations as to where this has been delivered or where works are underway.

ESOL Provision in London

Susan Hall: What steps have you taken to increase the number and improve the accessibility of the ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) provisions across London?

The Mayor: Following delegation of the Adult Education Budget (AEB), which funds the majority of London’s ESOL provision, we have extended eligibility for AEB-funded courses to learners in low-paid work. This will unlock access to ESOL provision for many more Londoners for whom it was previously out of reach. We’re also improving the accessibility of ESOL provision by investing in learning and innovation, including through the ESOL Plus Programme and Skills for Londoners Innovation Fund.
However, our interventions can only go so far; the biggest barrier to accessing ESOL provision in London remains that demand is much greater than what can be provided by the delegated government grant. Nationally, ESOL funding has been cut by 60 per cent - nearly half a billion pounds – over the last 10 years. That’s why I am calling on the government for a new devolution and funding deal to establish an integrated, properly funded skills and employment system that can meet the city’s challenges, including demand for ESOL.